Chapter 15 - Telemachus Returns



Summary: (Raina)

Athena visits Telemachus and Peisistratus and tells him to return home to his mother, because the more he procrastinates and lingers away from home, the worse it will be for Penelope at Ithaca. She tells him to give all of his precious belongings to a woman-servant because Penelope might forget her beloved husband and take some of Telemachus’ belongings to her new husband’s home. Telemachus expresses his wish to leave to Menelaus and receives a mixing bowl and a robe from Menelaus and Helen. As Telemachus said his goodbyes, an eagle flew above them and was considered a good/bad omen. Telemachus asks Peisistratus to help him get past Nestor's hospitality. As they prepared to leave, a stranger approached him. Melampus was a wealthy man from Pylos who had been imprisoned by the King and had later escaped. He took revenge on the King by marrying his brother to the King's daughter. He had two sons. His son's son was a great prophet. The stranger was the prophet's son, Theoclymenus. He questions Telemachus about where he is from and who he is. Telemachus replies truthfully. Theoclymenus asks to accompany him on his ship. So they departed and set course for the Pointed Isles. Meanwhile, Odysseus asks Eumaeus for a guide to accompany him to see the Queen and "mingle" with the Suitors. Eumaeus protests against this. He instead tells him the story of how he was truly a prince from Syrie and that his nurse brought him to Ithaca when he was a boy. Finally, Telemachus reaches the coast of Ithaca and tells Theoclymenus that he may stay with Eurymachus. Another omen appears, Apollo's hawk, which according to Theoclymenus, means Telemachus' house is the most powerful in Ithaca.


Themes: (Jourdan)

Disguise: pg.195 Athene whispers into Telemacus' ear to go back home.

Hospitality: (pg.196)Menelaus allows Telemachus to leave, and givs him gifts(metal, silver,and gold). (pg.202)Telemachus offers Theoclymenus to travel with him.

Justice:


Locations Traveled: (Madi)

Pointed Isles
Ithaca




Study Guide Questions:

Who does Athene visit at the beginning of this chapter? Why? (Ali)
She visits Lacedonaemon so she could remind Telemachus it was time for him to go home.

How does she convince Telemachus to go home? (Ali)
The suitors are wreaking havoc on his home and his mother is considering marrying one of them.

What warning does Athene give to Telemachus? (Ali)
That the suitors are planning to kill him for deceiving them.

Where does Telemachus have to go when he first reaches Ithaca? (Ali)
To the swineherd.

What gifts does Menelaus offer to Telemachus? (Caroline)

A bowl of silver, cup and a robe

What does Helen give to Telemachus? (Caroline)

A gown for his bride when he gets married

What omen do they witness? (Caroline)

They witness an eagle carrying a white goose

What does Menelaus think the omen means? (Caroline)

Menelaus predicts that Odysseus will reach home after his long journey

What does Telemachus ask Nestor’s son to do? (Maddie M)

to take him right to the ship

Who shows up when they are about to leave? (Maddie M)

Theoclymenus

What is this visitor’s story? (Maddie M)

That he killed a man, and his family is the most powerful in argos, and he must runaway from his home


What does he ask Telemachus? (Maddie M)

he asks him to take him on his ship

What does Odysseus tell Eumaeus that he plans to do the next day? (Giselle)

He intends to leave in the morning and go to town and beg.


How does Eumaeus respond? (Giselle)


He thinks it’s an horrible idea and does not want Odysseus to do this.


Who does Odysseus ask Eumaeus about? (Giselle)
If his family was alive or if they all passed on and went to Hades.
Briefly summarize what happened to Eumaeus when he was young. (Giselle)

He was brought up by the mother even though she was not his mother, he hoped she was alright now.


What omen appears after Telemachus returns to Ithaca? (Olivia)

a hawk flew over head with a dove in it's talons. The feathers then fluttered down half way between the ship and Telemachus

What does it mean? (Olivia)

That there is no more royal house in Itaca than Telemachus'

Who is Telemachus going to visit? (Olivia)

faithful servents of his masters